Light Agenda for Water District Board Results in Short Meeting

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - April 19, 2018

What did the Board decide?
Passed consent agenda unanimously. Several items were pulled for additional comment / question:

1. Commissioner McGowan questioned the need to purchase Plant Information Management Software. Could this have been created in-house? Staff explained that this is an off-the-shelf purchase of standard software. Another commissioner asked if MWRD would be responsible for maintenance of software. Staff answered in affirmative.
2. President Spyropoulos asked why it was necessary to retain two firms to do legal work connected to Workers Compensation cases. Staff explained that there is a large volume of work and if one of the firms drops out for some reason, the other is there to provide back-up and continuity.
3. Commissioner Walsh questioned payment to Fox River Water Reclamation District for Anaerobic Digestion Improvements. He has a concern that the MWRD has no oversight function on this project. Staff agreed that this was an issue that needed further investigation. Walsh requested that this item be deferred. 
4. It was explained that Contract 18-617-11 will be for consulting only, with no “wrench work.” This is to ensure there is no infringement on the collective bargaining contract.
5. President Spyropoulos requested breakdown on the value of the land to be leased to tenant farmers in Fulton County, Illinois.​

What else did the Board discuss or refer to committee? 

• Under New Business, Commissioner Shore highlighted upcoming Earth Day and stressed the important role of the MWRD in guarding the environment. She quoted Rachel Carson (1953) who wrote that “the real wealth of a nation lies in the earth…” We should celebrate Earth Day every day.

Other Comments/Observations

• First twenty minutes of the meeting were devoted to resolutions recognizing three different parties and the subsequent photo sessions. 

Observer - Georgia Gebhardt